Defensive Back - DB
Height: 6-0 Weight: 180
Freshman
Previous Affiliations
Chester
Previous Experience
Chester, S.C.
High School: Rated as a three-star prospect and the nation’s 86th-best safety by Rivals.com ... registered 124 tackles, three interceptions, 11 pass break-ups and two sacks as a senior ... finished junior campaign with 80 tackles and three INTs ... helped lead Chester to back-to-back appearances in South Carolina 3-A state championship games ... earned all-state accolades as a senior ... was a three-year starter ... boasts a 3.3 grade point average ... coached by Maurice Flowers.
On Cuko: Comes off a solid season as the starting placekicker ... Very serious about his role on the team ... Worked hard to improve his kickoffs in spring season ... Primary kicker as a true freshman back in 2005, earned the job back last season after two seasons on the sidelines ... Has worked hard to improve his accuracy and distance on kicks ... Excellent leg strength ... Native of Albania, who grew up in Italy before coming to United States at age 14.
As a redshirt junior in 2008: Junior placekicker who returned to starting role after two years as back-up to All-conference kicker Chris Koepplin ... Has 59 points in return to starting role as a kicker on 45-of-46 on PATs and 6-of-8 on field goals ... 71 made PATs, ranks fifth-best in a career ... With 41 PATs, fourth-best season in UMass history ... Missed a possible game-tying extra point vs. Maine (11/8) ... Career-best seven PATs at Rhode Island (11/1) ... Booted career-best three field goals (22, 44, 38) on four attempts vs. #9 Richmond (10/18) ... Kicked the go-ahead 38-yard field goal in win vs. #16 Delaware (10/4). Missed a 45-yarder at end of first half ... Made five PATs and a 39-yarder at #7 James Madison (9/13) ... Kicked second-career game-winning field goal, from 42 yards at Holy Cross (9/6) as time expired. Kick came on grass and was longest of career.
As a redshirt sophomore in 2007: Did not play in any games ... Worked as back-up kicker ... CAA Academic All-Conference.
As a sophomore in 2006: Took a medical redshirt season ... Suffered from a groin injury early in the season which limited him ... Took the opening kickoff at Villanova (9/16), but did not kick again for the season after aggravating his injury.
As a freshman in 2005: Freshman starting placekicker who handled all field goals and kickoffs ... Made six field goals on 13 tries and is 27-of-32 on extra point tries in first season ... Totaled 45 points, second to Steve Baylark on the team ... Kicked a 23-yarder in finale at Hofstra (11/19) ... Converted two field goals (41 and 35 yards) along with three extra-points at Army (11/12) for nine points ... Named Co-UMass/Dinn Brothers Athlete of Week (Oct. 17) and Atlantic 10 Co-Special Teams Player of the Week on Oct. 16 after dramatic game-winning kick to beat James Madison ... Kicked game-winning 41-yard field goal with eight seconds left to lift UMass to 10-7 win over No. 4 James Madison. Kick was first game-winning field goal at UMass since 1993 and first in last minute since 1990. Kick was also named The Sports Network's "Play of the Week" ... Made four of five extra points attempts vs. Albany (9/17) ... Made two PATs, but missed 21-yard field goal at Colgate (9/10) ... Opened career with a pair of field goals (24 and 31 yards) at Richmond (9/1), also made one extra point, but missed one kicking it into opponent's helmet.
Before UMass: Played at Beverly High School for Head Coach Dan Bauer ... Served as a team captain ... honored as all-conference for three seasons ... Named the special teams player of the week 12 times in his career over three seasons ... Played in the 2005 Shriners and Agganis games in Boston ... Honored as the MVP of the Thanksgiving Day game ... Made five-of-six field goals, 16-of-17 extra-points ... 90 percent of his kickoffs went inside the opponents' five-yard line and 75 percent were into the end zone ... Long field goal of 40 yards ... Also had a 38-yard punting average ... Played soccer as a freshman in high school and was named Team MVP ... Went out for football as a sophomore and made the team going on to an outstanding career.
Personal: Armando Cuko ... Born May 2, 1987 in Albania Fier ... Son of Vllasi and Vjollca Cuko ... Came to the United States at 14 years old from Italy, as he had moved from Albania to Italy when he was 8 years old ... Has two older sisters Bedrana and Marjola ... Majoring in Communications.
Career Statistics (Kicking)
Year GP/GS FG-A PAT Pts Long
2005 11/11 6-13 27-32 45 41
2006 1/1 0-0 0-0 0 0
2008 12/12 6-8 45-46 63 42
Totals 24/24 16-25 68-74 108 42
Career Highs
Long Field Goals: 42 at Holy Cross (9/6/08)GW FG;
41 vs. J. Madison (10/15/05) GW FG; 41 at Army (11/12/05)
Field Goals: 3 vs. Richmond (10/18/08)
Points: 9 three times, last vs. Richmond (10/18/08)
PATs: 7 at Rhode Island (11/1/08)
“Tolerance and Apathy are the last virtues of a dying society.” Aristotle
Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem.
#31 - John Burnley
Position: RB
Year: RFr.
Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colo.
High School: Palmer
Height: 5-11
Weight: 190
2008: Redshirted.
High School: Competed in football, basketball and track & field... Voted to 2007 All-Colorado team as a senior... First-team all-conference winner as a senior... A Colorado Springs All-Gazette selection as a senior... Rushed for over 1,500 yards as a senior and totaled 17 touchdowns.
Personal: Full name is Jonathon Burnley... Father Trevor ran track for the Bears... Is undecided on a major.
High School
An All-District First-Team tight end and linebacker for 10-4 state semifinalist Waller High School ... Rivals.com two-star recruit ... high school coach was Jim Phillips
Chase Gazzerro
Senior from CM Russell
Position: LB Number: 31
Height: 5-10 Weight: 219
Montana State -- (2008) Enters the fall as Montana State’s starting Sam linebacker… returns as a junior after receiving an injury hardship for his injury-shortened 2007 campaign. (2007) His third season as a Bobcat began in spectacular fashion, as he registered 15 tackles in his first four games, returning an interception against Weber State for a touchdown and registering a safety against Idaho State… injured in the Idaho State game, which ended his season… also had six tackles against Weber State, and two tackles with a pass breakup against Texas A&M. (2006) A talented player whose prospects entering the fall range from winning a starting linebacker spot in the middle to redshirting. (2005) Made one of the memorable and significant plays of MSU’s season, tracking down a long kick return to prevent a touchdown against Montana... was a special teams standout and played in all 11 games... saw some action at linebacker during a spell of mid-season injuries, getting five tackles and recovering a fumble. CM Russell -- First Team All-State linebacker and kick returner at CMR, who played the second half of the Rustlers’ state title-clinching contest at tailback due to injuries... chosen for Shrine and Mon-Dak All-Star games... Great Falls Tribune Superstate choice as a senior who was honorable mention all-state as a junior... two-year starter, and two-time state power-lifting champion. Academics -- Enrolled in the construction engineering technology program. Personal -- Born Chase M. Gazzerro on May 5, 1986… the son of Anita and Tony Gazzerro
'08 Stats:
12 games
43 solo tackles
19 assists
11 tackles for loss
4.5 sacks
1 Int.
6 pass break ups
Transfer from Arizona State…Academic Notes: Planning to study business marketing…2007: Saw action in all 11 games…Made 15 tackles on the season with one interception and one pass deflection…High School: A 2006 graduate of Charter Oak High School…Named San Gabriel Valley MVP…Earned first team on both offense and defense…Set school records for most carries in a game (35), rushing yards in one quarter (115) and single-game touchdowns (6)…Also lettered in basketball and track…Earned All-CIF honors in both the 100m and 200m…Personal: Born Brian Irving Hunter April 15, 1988 in Inglewood, Calif…Son of Darrell and Delores Hunter.
